Improvement in self-ldading battery-guns



T. J.' CRANMER.

Self Loading Battery Gun.

No. 74,994. Patented March 3, I868.

2 Sheets- S heet 1. Y

' T. J. CRANMER.

Self Loading Battery Gun.

- '2 Sheets-Shet 2.

v v Inveniar: mined I J I We;

UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'r. J. ORANMER, or VALLIOITA, CALIFORNIA,

IMPROVEMENT IN sis:LF-tbrimno. BATTERY-GUNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 74,991, dated March 3, 1868.

of chambers, from whichythe powder and ball are discharged from a. cylinder and charged with loose ammunitiomand is arranged in such a. manner that it is loaded automatically by gravitation and discharges by volleys any number of single balls or cases ot'shot. It is constructed in such a manner that each volley can be discharged simultaneously by the explosion of one cap. The machinery of the gun is incased in steel plate and bullet-proof against small-arms, and rests upon a pivot, which euables the gunner to directhis fire witlras much ease and precision as the most skillfulcan thesmall-arm. It is so constructed that it can be placed upon a carriage. and drawn by horses from place to place. Itiswell adapted to-fortificatipus in caseof an attack by storm, or on board of vessels, or in any place, as it will discharge one hundred volleys per minute, and with unerringcertainty. Itis readily seen that it is one of the most destructive engines of war ever invented.

During the recent rebellion it was the great desideratum of the United States'Government and inventors to devise and introduce the most destructive and economical fire arm for the purpose of destroying and crippling the opposing armies. To this end various arms were tested, but proved of little or no utility, and were therefore abandoned, having failed to accomplish the object sought. To enable others skilled in the artto make use my invention, I will proceed to descriheits construction and operation. g

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved machinegun. Fig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal plan view of the same from the line X X, Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of the same; Fig. 4 is a side elevation taken from the side opposite from Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal verticalsectionallelevation of the cartridge magazine or hopper from the line Y Y. Fig. 6 is a top planviewof the primer with the cover re-' moved. Fig. 7 is a details-1 or top planview of the lock,

- Letters of like name and kind refer-to like parts in each of the figures.

. A represents the cylinder of my'machinegun, which may be madeof steel or other suitable metal andof any desired dimensions, provided with journals that turn in proper bearings B, that are rigidly secured to the frame or casing 0, which is also made of iron or steel or other proper metal. This cylinder A is provided with any desired number of cartridgechamhers D, located radially around the center of theeylinder in rows of three or more or less chambers. The muzzle of each chamber fis in the periphery of the cylinder, and each v chamber extends to a depth sufficient to hold a charge of powder and balL- The chambers in each row connect witheach other'at the bot tom, the'nipple communicating with bdt. one chamberiu eachrow, so that each chamber will he fired simultaneous with the others in the same row of chambers. E represents thenipples, one of which connects with each volley orline of chambers upon which the capis placed when bein'gfired.

F is the crank by which the gun is operated, and is secured to the end of the shaft G. Upon the shaft G is also another crank, H, to which is connected the pitman I, eonnectin g with the bar J, said bar being held by and working by a regular reciprocating motion in the slides ii, Fig. 3, located upon the side of the frame 0. The motion is caused by'the revolutions of the-crank H upon-the shaft G.

.In the bar J, and near its center, is dovetailed a dog, L, (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 7,) in the end of which is a notch that engages with a. pint-1e, a, that is secured to the hammer M, so thatwhen the bar J is moved forward the dog'en'gages the pintle upon the hammer M, that is connected to the mainspring F by a. bar, 11*, and when the bar J is drawn back the hammer is also drawn back until the dog L strikes the lug i, and is forced back andreleases the hammer M, when by the action of 'the mainspring F it files forward and strikes the nippleE, upon which is the percussion cap,

and the whole volley is fired.

I N is also another crank secured tothe shaft G, that connects by a pltman, 0, to the lever P, that is connected to a frame or segment, Q, that moves the frame or bars R lon itudinally, and by means of lugs upon the filers R the slides S S in the bottom of the charger are Wis a cam or eccentric, secured to the shaft G. To this 'eccentricis a rod that connects with the shaft of the cylinder A, and is'employed for the purpose of moving the cylinder one notch in theratchet-wheel A, wh'ich brings the'next set'ot cartridge-chambers in'position to be fired.

C, Fig. 6,'is' a device for holding a quantity of caps, and for placing the same on the ni ples, and is composed of a box, D, in which Is a coiled spring,E, with a scroll-space, F, upon the outsideof'the said spring and upon the inside of the said box, and is so arranged that one capis laced at a time upon the nipple and force to its place by adog, n, which is forced upward by means of the log 0, working in the inclined slot u in the sliding bar J, Fig. 3.

F is'the mainspring, secured to the bottom of the frame 0, and extends up iu-a vertical direction and connects with the hammerM by means dfa connecting-bar, HL

P represents the barrels, made to precisely correspond with the chambers in the cylinder, and secured to a frame, K, thatis firmly secured to the frame 0, the butts of; which barrelsjoin the cylinder on a line withits axis.

The operation is simple, rapid',-and efiectw ire, and consists simply in placing a quantityof powder in the magazineU, and balls in the hopper 0 and caps in thebox or space F, (all loose ammunition.) Then by turning the crank. F every part is put in motion. When the crank is turned forward to the center the dog L engages with the hammer, and is drawn back and is released by the lug i, Fig.7,a'nd the.

wolleydischarged. At this same time'the slides 88 in the bottom of the charger are opened, and a charge of powder and ball is allowed to pass into the chambers in the cylinder, when. the slides are closed and the rammers '1 force or press thecartridge down,-and at thatinstantthe volley is discharged, andso on with powerful force and efl'ect. Now, it will be understood that the charger is placed over the center of the cylinder, and the rod Opthat connects the charger to the power-shaft G, oscillates or prodnces a reciprocating motion to the frame or sash that governs the slides S S of the charger. On the inside of the'sash or frame R are four wedges or inclined lugs, thatm'ove the'slides laterally with the face of the cylinder in the forward part of the sash. Thetop forward lugon the side opposite from the crank and in the sash closes the top slide. The otherlug on the same side, situated behind on the lower edge, immediately after opens the bottom slide in its I backward motion. The bottom lug on the side of the driving-crank of the sash closes the bottom slide. The other lug, located forward and above, immediately after opens the top slide, The charge of powder may be increased endimini'shed at pleasure,-as one 'wall, S of each powder.-chamber,Fig. 5, is adjustable by means of a set-vscrew, and by screwing itfor'ward or backward the size ofthe chamberlwlll be dl-.. minished or-increased. I The cylinder has an alternate motion prodncedby the eccentric and rod or pawl B", When it'is in motion the bottom slide is closed and the top slide open. When at restthe'top slide is closed and the bottom slide-is open. By this means. the charge is accuratclymeaaured between the slides in its passage from the magazine to the cylinder. I

The barrels I may be kept cool from rapt and excessive firing by filling the water-box or frame K, through which the barrels pass, with cold water. I v. 4 I

Below the slides through which the-powder has to pass into the powder-chambersis' ar-v ranged-apacking or bloclaf, which touches the cylinderA and prevents the powder in the charger and between theslides'from coming in contact with any other parts of the "machine, thus preventing the explosion of the powder 'in the charger and while being placed into the chambers; The halls pass into the chambers from the hopper 0? through tubes 12. These tubes consist of' two pieces each,'one sliding within the other. The upper piece is alternately raised and lowered by means of a lug,'q, playing in a slanting slot, 'q, in anex-' tension, 0', of the bar B. Between the tubes are also worked up and down, by a similar fog and slot, narrow plates t, The alternate up and down motion of these tubes and plates prevents theballs in the hopper from clogging, and facilitates their easyfall into the tubes,

where they are received and their numberas" per charge regulated by the slides S. Y o I Having thusdeseribedmyinvention, what}- clalm as new,'and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, i s-- j 1. The sash or frame R,-provided with lugs for moving the slides SS, and constructed substand-ally as described, and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The rock-shaft and frame Q, -pro'vldedwith teeth that move the sash or frame Basal stantiallyas and forthe purposes herein s and described.

3. The construction of the lockfor iirin'g the;

volleys, consisting of the sliding bar J and dog L, with the lug a, hammer M, and spring F,

substantially as. herein shown and described.

own

5. The combination of'the hopper O ivithl -the tubes 19 and plates t, lugs gand sash R, operating substantially as and forthe purposes 1 herein shown and described.

Witnesses:

6. The construction and arrangement of the wall S in each powder-chamber, adjusted laterally-by means of the set-screws to regulate the charge of powder, substantially as and for the urppse specified. 1

p T. 'J.. ORANMER.

. *ALONZO RHODES,

V R. SENTER.- 

